Keep your wine high and dry!

If it wasn't annoying enough that they were digging up the road outside our house, they most kindly broke the water main, sending a geyser over the roof of our condo. Water cascaded around our building, devastating our gardens, and eventually finding its way into our bedroom, and my office.

I am writing this amidst the hum and roar of fans and heaters. Muddy footprints coat the floor, and everything I own is in a heap in the middle of our house. We have been forced to find temporary lodging, and through it all I am mostly thankful it was so minor.

It is impossible not to think of Katrina, even with a flood as tiny as mine. One of the tragic outcomes of that hurricane, which has been rightfully overshadowed by the human plight, was the loss of some of the worlds great wine collections.

Wine cellars really don't like floods, or fires, or earthquake, or any other disaster. Wine Forensics is not a common term, in fact as far as I know, I coined it. I have on occasion worked with insurance and law enforcement investigators to determine how spoiled wine is, how it may have been damaged, and even on a few cases of fraud (worthy of a blog on its own) and arson. And so it is with a fair amount of experience that I can tell you, wine doesn't like disasters.

How is your wine stored? Do you keep it safe from temperature fluctuations, humidity extremes, vibration and light? Many of you will not be able to say yes, and often that is fine. My "ready rack" those wines I plan to drink in the next month or so, just sit in a bin in my living room. But my better wines, I protect with everything technology gives me, and I bet many of you do as well.

So... How is your wine stored? Not against the vagaries of time, but against the onslaught of disaster. Is it off the floor to guard against flood? What about fire? Ok, fire is tough, but a minor fire can set off sprinklers or bring fire engines and hoses. Ask anyone in the know and they will tell you that even a minor fire can mean enormous water damage. Moldy corks are not a good sign.

Earthquakes have destroyed many a bottle of wine. Not only in the collections of individuals, but in wineries and warehouses as well. If you live in an earthquake prone region you probably have already taken some measures with the rest of the house, just don't forget about the wine. Precautions can start with something basic like a simple rubber mat on the floor (for those lucky enough to have a wine cellar you can walk into).

You can't make everything in your life perfectly safe, and disaster responders will point out that I am just reacting to my recent circumstances, but a little prior planning can go a long way. While making your disaster drill plans don't forget about protecting your most treasured assets, and after securing that wine, don't forget about your family and pets!

I have put up a web page for those voyeurs out there that can't help but slow down and gawk when they pass an accident - you know who you are. You can find it here.